Tale of a Whale

‘Stories,' the green-eyed Sigrid said, unperturbed, 'are like prayers. It does not matter when you begin, or when you end, only that you bend a knee and say the words.’ - Catherynne Valente TJ’s story is significant not because of where it started, but instead for the reasons in which it was written. Stories are told to transfer ideas and morals from one person or generation to another. In Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher, TJ inspires the school’s swim team of misfits by showing them acceptance for who they are and what they have to offer as individuals. TJ ensures that his readers will discover for themselves his motivation towards writing his story. He begins by showing the meaning of the ways of the world through his narrative. However, he ends by inspiring the readers to not only observe his reasoning behind his words, but to explore the wrongs of the society in which they live in. TJ shows compassion and acceptance to those who need to be respected and those who need to learn to respect others. These characters have yet to distinguish a dependable character from their lives in which they trust full heartedly. They soon find the trust they need in TJ, who allows examples to be made of these characters so that readers may be influenced by both his and other individual stories. TJ allows his narrative to be represented by racism along with the emotional and physical consequences of abuse, along with encouragement towards total acceptance and tolerance of the outsiders. During the story, TJ tells his narrative to reveal the heartbreak and hurt that is an effect of racism. To illustrate the dreadfulness of racism, he demonstrates that, “… racist thought and action says far more about the person they come from than the person they are directed at” (121). When saying something about someone’s race, that comment states more about the accusers mind than about the accused ethnicity. The true victims of the story are those whose minds are infested by the evil of racism. Though he is hurt by racist comments, TJ understands that he must also provide aid to the people who have become victims of racist thoughts towards others. He learns through experience to stand up against racism’s ignorance. Georgia Brown’s statement about discrimination shows that the people are using TJ’s ethnicity to try and discourage him. At the same time, raising power to themselves to a level that shows that they are fools who use his race to promote their own figurative strength. Regardless of the views of others in Cutter High, TJ shows that race is equal to other flaws and that none should affect the opinions of who the other person is, "...the Magnificent Seven consisted of one swimmer of color, a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a one- legged psychopath. When I envision us walking seven abreast through the halls of Cutter High, decked out in the sacred blue and gold, my heart swells" (117). At Cutter High many of the students and faculty see various levels of what they consider to be different from the norm. TJ tries to instigate an idea that the differences considered flaws, especially race, should not be seen as blemishes or taken into account at all when thinking of the person as whole. TJ shows that his ethnicity and other traits of the swim team should not be considered faults, but as variances that distinguish them. Yet Rich Marshall and Mike Barbour make the swim team feel as though these factors make them outcasts from not only their school but society in general. TJ’s shows that every person should be treated with the respect they deserve despite being black, mentally disabled, or physically disabled. Racism is corruption of the views of the mind, and is told through stories so people may see the corruption of the act. This novel shows the protagonist using multiple characters situations as instances to disclose the terrors of abuse from the views of the victims, who have been hurt both with physical harm and mental detriment. In spite of being constantly abused, Carly protected herself and her mom from her father by telling him, “…for every mark he put on me or my mom, I’d put another on the car…” (74). Carly finds inner strength to stand up to her abusive father to protect her cowardly mother. She shows her father the hurt and anger that is felt whenever he abuses her mother through damaging his car and threatening to do additional damage. Carly’s situation is an example of the varying types of abusive relationships throughout the novel. TJ is able to convey the emotionally scarring experiences to his audience by showing how in any situation they may overcome the obstacles and terrors of abuse. Furthermore when TJ is angered by Mike Barbour’s abuse to Kristen Sweetwater, TJ’s mother explains to him, “He’ll never be charged… because the person he hit will say it was accidental after he apologizes and swears to never to do it again…” (197). Kristen Sweetwater forgives Mike Barbour and accepts his statements that he will not hit her again. TJ’s mom expresses to TJ that because Mike Barbour has convinced Kristen that she is privileged to be in a relationship with him, Kristen will not testify in any court that Mike hit her. Kristen is victimized by Mike who takes power over her in an abusive manner. Mike Barbour’s situation with Kristen describes an abusive relationship that is similar to Rich Marshall’s relationship with Alicia Marshall. TJ observes repetitive behavior in the victim’s actions towards the abusers. Both Kristen and Alicia eventually return to Mike and Rich. TJ realizes that in many types of abusive relationships the abused will still have feelings for the abuser. An act of abuse may be cause for imprisonment yet many get away with it because they hold a psychological barrier over their victims. This truly is a terrible act that may be exposed through the telling of tales for the sake of the victims. TJ represents a voice to those who have none and encourages the world to tolerate and accept the people who are considered different from society’s version of normal. Although TJ’s dad was depressed because of the event of running over the small child, he found reassurance in the way whales communicate and told TJ, “Every whale in the ocean will at one time or another run into that song… If they think it, they say it...Whale talk is the truth, and in a very short period of time, if you're a whale, you know exactly what it is to be you” (179). When a whale speaks, it expresses its emotions openly and accepts its personality. Unlike humans, they convey emotions not to be judged by other whales, but to feel their pain, sorrow, or an array of other emotions allowed to be heard by listening peers. A whale knows its personality and displays it to other creatures without a worry to be excluded, unlike humans. TJ’s dad states his interests in becoming a whale because of their emotional freedom. He realizes that people can learn from whales and tolerate others feelings and differing flaws as the whales do. TJ resembles a whale throughout his story because he openly accepts others flaws and forgives those who hurt him. He sees that Chris allows the disabled kids he works with to become the whales that express their feelings so openly. Despite society’s negative views upon the children’s disabilities their feelings of glee are shown. “Political correctness aside, the water and deck are filled with kids look act like they’ll be getting the very best parking places for the rest of their lives” (23-24). The young children with disabilities that Chris Coughlin teaches to swim appear to be having the time of their lives. The children swim around with courage because they know that they are not being judged, but accepted by a group and find this to be an encouraging experience. These children are rejected by society because of their disabilities, so when Chris accepts them for their personalities they become ecstatic. This is the first instance that the novel shows tolerance and acceptance of the people who are not considered normal. Chris shows these qualities of support and patience towards the children because he has experienced the pain that is felt by being discerned from a group. TJ sees Chris’ commitment towards toleration and acceptance of others, and that he becomes determined to display the traits in the form of a swim team. In society, understanding and approval are characteristics that are hard to find. By using his tale TJ uses these qualities to insure that as many people possible may have the opportunity to be accepted into a group and feel that they are welcomed there. Overall TJ surrounds the reader’s minds with the horrors of racism, and how abuse has affected the victims emotionally and physically. TJ represents tolerance and acceptance that is needed towards those who are considered nonconformists in his society. TJ’s background in racism allows the reader to generate ideas that deny the ignorance of prejudice. Throughout his lifetime he has experienced many tales of abuse, in his own life and in the lives of those close to him. Among generations in the past and surely in the future, TJ may explore his motives of writing his story to warm the heart and minds of his readers. In order for his tale to be told he has chosen to honor the art of storytelling by expressing his motivational narrative. In the end, storytelling has been shown to leave traces on the minds, touched by the messages chosen to be written by writer. Works Cited Crutcher, Chris. Whale Talk. New York: Harper Teens, 2001. Print. Valente, Catherynne. In the Night Garden. Spectra Books, 2006